This year, having just returned from Shikoku, we were too tired to go to Tokyo. Instead, I stayed at home, and Dr Trouble attended a local ceremony - Toro Nagashi - 真岡の燈ろう流し (Lanterns in the river) - in our favorite city - Moka.

It started with Buddhist monks chanting prayers for the casualties of war and then paper lanterns with a candle inside (500 yen for the privilege) were taken down to the river.